Grow Your Video Business with Ryan Koral

As the decade winds down, I want to speak to you, by myself this time, to highlight some of my favorite episodes from this year and what I've learned from them. I love to spend time reflecting by considering highs and lows and what has changed. This year was a year of growth for me in many ways, and I want to share with you some parts of it that I feel we can all benefit from. Recently, I realized that my company has finally met my goal where I can truly pick and choose the work that I do. This sense of freedom is hard-won, but it is truly worth it in so many ways. Today, I'm sharing what I've learned along this journey and how I believe you can achieve it too. Many of the lessons I learned came straight from the interviews that I've done for this podcast. Today, I go over just a small part of what has stood out for me over the past year. Whether it's perfecting your storytelling, developing passive income, getting more leads, and winning the best clients for you, I learned a ton of great stuff about growing your business. Another amazing part of 2019 was the Onward Summit that we hosted here in Detroit. It drew in Studio Sherpas members from near and far. I loved every minute of it as people connected, grew, and got inspired. I'm already really excited to do it again in 2020. What are you going to do to share your story and serve others in the new year? Share it with me in the comments on the episode page! In this episode The freedom that comes with delegation and understanding the work that fulfills you the most Recognizing your strengths and making it your focus Top lessons learned and highlights from a year of podcast interviews Key takeaways from the Onward Summit The power of developing personal habits to stay healthy and properly focussed Some of the tools and software that we use to manage aspects of our business Quotes "The power of delegation and seeing and understanding what doesn't bring me life [allows me to] hand them off." [7:44] "It's not just me. I'm not in a silo. I've met people who are learning things. I've been able to interview so many different people who've been able to speak into the Studio Sherpas community. It's incredible!" [12:07] "If you don't have habits in the morning if you're hopping on your phone and doing your email first thing, please just stop doing that. Your heart, your head, your body needs different food as you start your day." [25:14] Links Episode 144 with Amina Moreau Episode 133 with Sean Cannell Episode 114 with Blaire Enns Episode 122 with Chris Smith Episode 153 with Bob Burg Episode 132 with Rob Booker Episode 131 with Graham Cochrane Win Without Pitching The Go-Giver Learn about the next Onward Summit The High-Performance Planner Kajabi Building a Storybrand EOS Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

I cut my teeth 15 years ago filming weddings, sometimes as many as 40 a year. It was great work and I truly loved it. It taught me efficiency and how to work in less than ideal conditions. Filming weddings showed me how to make amazing films with little to no plan. It was filming weddings that introduced me to many of the elements of this trade that I still use every day, no matter what I'm shooting. But whether or not you feel like you would never shoot a wedding, keep listening, because this is the episode for you! John Bunn and Nick Miller are the guys to know for anyone who films weddings. Their company, How to Film Weddings, is a true repository for everything you'd want to know about making spectacular wedding videos. They have a podcast, a facebook group, tutorials, and workshops, to help share their vast experiences in this field. John and Nick talk about how they threw conventional wedding industry business models out and started working with each other, the competition. They recognize that there is enough business out there that they can do better in the end by sharing within the industry. That's why they've worked hard to create their own community of wedding filmmakers. John and Nick describe what went into that creation and how it has helped them and many others move their businesses, and the industry as a whole, in the right direction. We also talk about the power of confidence and what its source is. Naturally, the longer you do this work, the more confident you will get in your abilities to make an amazing video and serve your clients. But it's often a lack of confidence that is keeping many of us from charging what we should. John and Nick share some tips for overcoming these hurdles so you can really start earning. Do you make wedding videos? What have you found particularly rewarding or challenging from it? Leave a comment on the episode page! In this episode How to work with your competition and grow at the same time The power of a community to encourage and help people find their voice in the industry Why the face of a brand is more important than many give it credit How self-confidence is either your best friend or your worst enemy The secret to a solid sales pitch How to serve your clients instead of selling to them The ways that vulnerability can be an inspiration to others Quotes "There's enough weddings and business out there so we don't have to be super cutthroat and we can share what we have and help each other." [12:40] "If we can all work with each other to make each other better and have hard conversations, we can elevate the industry as a whole." [21:03] "Our confidence has grown because we know we put out a good product, we serve really well, we help our clients and we're going to give them something that they'll cherish forever." [30:32] "If you're not confident in the price, nobody else will be. And if you're not a little uncomfortable with the price, I encourage you to push it and be a little uncomfortable." [32:33] "There are so many weddings and so many jobs that there is plenty for all of us. We're in an industry where we shoot video in a world that is becoming more and more video-centric." [52:18] Links Find John and Nick online Follow John and Nick on YouTube Get free access to John and Nick's workshop Venture Workshop Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

In business, there's nothing more important than creating an amazing experience for your clients. That's the difference between leaving them simply satisfied or wanting to come back for more. Having pride in what you do and communicating that to your clients in a key part of this, and few people understand that better than today's guest. Dan Cockerell has held various management and executive operations roles at the Walt Disney World Resort, both in the theme parks and resort hotels, and was the sixth executive to hold the position of Vice President of the Magic Kingdom since the park opened in 1971. He has been a keynote speaker for Disney for eighteen years and provides customized authentic presentations focusing on leadership and management practices drawing upon his extensive Disney career. In today's episode, Dan tells us all about his recent transition from a career with Disney to working for himself as an entrepreneur. He has certainly learned a lot about building a healthy company culture with a focus on customer service. While these work well at a large corporation like Disney, they can also be applied to any small business. What can you do to create an excellent and unforgettable experience for your clients? Leave a comment on the episode page! In this episode Lessons learned from working at Disney that can be applied to any business Why mindset is more important than resources for creating great customer experiences Why "very good" isn't good enough The importance of taking pride in the work that you do every day Why simple is always better than complex when determining your company's mission The payoffs of prioritizing clarity when communicating with your clients Quotes "I always wondered what it's like being an entrepreneur and I found out it's a heck of a lot of work, but it's a lot of freedom." [2:25] "It has nothing to do with resources. It's all about the experience you want to create for your customers. It really is a mindset." [9:38] "This is about prioritizing your resources. You can't focus on everything." [26:20] "Continue to hone in on your craft. Be excellent at being a videographer, but realize that a lot of things you value are not going to be transparent to your customers...You just have to make sure that they feel comfortable." [39:21] Links Find Dan Cockerell online Follow Dan on Instagram | Twitter Come Rain or Shine Podcast Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

A creative director is a crucial role to be filled in any studio, big or small. But if you've ever wondered just what a creative director is, I've got a real treat for you. Today I'm sitting down with someone who's talents for this job I have been blessed to know first-hand, and he's going to tell you all about it! Today you're going to hear from my longest-standing employee. John Azoni is the creative director at Tell Studios. I have the extreme pleasure of working with John as he expertly helps clients hone their storytelling skills for maximum impact, as well as directing, shooting and editing many of the projects that come through our door. John explains the many varied roles that he fills at the studio. As a self-titled "creative generalist" he spends his workday doing anything from copywriting, editing, scriptwriting, strategizing with clients, and emptying the trash. I ask John some tough questions, like what has kept him working for me through all these years and how he has viewed the evolution of his role. John explains what keeps him happy and fulfilled in the workplace and how other business owners can create a healthy and nourishing workplace culture as well. Being an integral part of landing big clients, John explains what he thinks it takes to find them and make them happy. There's no single secret to this, but having solid processes in place and communicating those well to clients is a central part of this. But most important is finding the right clients for you from the beginning so that everyone understands each other's value. To that end, we talk about what clients really want out of a partnership and how you can fulfill that for them every time. What role do you see a creative director playing in your business? Let me know in the comments on the episode page! In this episode What it actually means to be a creative director at a small studio Keeping quality employees happy to stay with you for many years Deciding the type of work for you to do and what's important to delegate The one thing you can do to book better clients, charge more money, and make better videos What clients are really looking for when they hire you The power of strategically workshopping with clients Quotes "I just think of myself as a creative generalist. That's what I love about it -- being versatile and not pigeon-holed into one thing every day." [13:26] "An eye-opener for me was learning to let certain people be how they were designed to be and not expect something else out of them." [29:09] "It comes down to the problem that you solve for your client. The obvious thing would be helping the client make money. But I think deep down it's to take the creative pressure off of themselves." [35:17] Links Tell Studios Traction Desert Flight The Video Blueprint Method Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

There are many different elements that all add up to business success. Chief among these are providing great value and communicating that well to as many people as possible. My guest today has written an incredibly helpful book on doing just that and I'm truly thrilled to have him share his knowledge with you today. Bob Burg is a sought-after speaker at company leadership and sales conferences sharing the platform with everyone from today's business leaders and broadcast personalities to even a former U.S. President. Bob is the author of a number of books, such as The Go-Giver, which focus on sales, marketing, and influence, with total book sales of well over a million copies. In today's interview, Bob breaks down the key principles of business success that make up The Go-Giver. These are the laws of value, compensation, influence, authenticity, and receptivity. Bob and I discuss how understanding and operating within each of these will help your business grow and prosper like nothing else. We dive deep into what it means to provide value to customers and how this is much more than simply a price-point. By trying to serve people and add value to their lives, your business can't help but grow. Even more, you'll find your work more enjoyable than ever. What can you do today to communicate your high value to clients? Drop me a message in the comments on the episode page! In this episode The five laws of stratospheric success for your video business How to communicate the value of what you do so that others pay top-dollar for it Why selling isn't what most people think it is Simple tips to make networking more fun and more effective How understanding the true definition of sales will inevitably lead to success How to sell on high-value instead of low price Quotes "The focus is not on your fee. The focus is on bringing immense value to your client. Money is simply an echo of value." [7:25] "When you place the other person's interests first, and when you come at it authentically, you've created that benevolent context for your success where the money comes to you. You've got to be willing to receive it with gratitude." [13:47] "Nobody is going to buy from you because you have a quota to meet or because you need the money, or even because you're a really nice person. They're going to buy from you because they believe they will be better off by doing so." [16:28] "Many people think that selling is about trying to convince someone to buy something they don't want or need. That's not selling. Selling is simply discovering what the other person wants, needs, or desires and helping them to get it." [22:23] "When you sell on low price, you're a commodity and that's how you're treated. When you sell on high-value, you're a resource." [32:04] Links Find Bob Burg online Follow Bob on Twitter | YouTube | Linkedin | Instagram The Go-Giver Go-Givers Sell More The Go-Giver Leader The Go-Giver Influencer Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Most of us creatives get easily distracted by new ideas. Sometimes this is where real gems come from and are totally worth pursuing. Other times, they're wastes of energy and time and should best be avoided. The tricky thing is knowing the difference. Larry Wiezycki is a producer, editor, documentary filmmaker, winner of five Emmys and is based in Tampa, Florida. He is the co-founder of Creative on Main Street Studio and Polyphonic Image. He's also a student here at Studio Sherpas. Larry and I talk about some of the ways we can use our assets to connect with the public and potential clients. Whether it's renting out your studio space or nurturing a particular relationship with a client, the important thing is to have clear goals so that you can really focus on what your company needs most. We also talk about our fears as video business owners. There's a lot of risk in this line of work, but the rewards are what keep us going. Dealing with fluid timelines, disorganized client relationships, and all the other ups and downs can certainly lead to stress and inefficiency. Larry explains how he deals with these challenges and why it's always worth it. How do you decide which projects and ideas to focus on? Let me know in the comments on the episode page! In this episode Recognizing the assets that you have and their actual potential for profit The importance of focus for determining the priorities in your business The thing that keeps most video business owners up at night and how to overcome it How to hire for small tasks to improve your overall efficiency The challenges that come with hiring an editor and its benefits Quotes "Business is about relationships. The fun part is interacting with people and getting to work with them and seeing what they're doing and want to talk about." [24:45] "Everybody knows how powerful it is to do video, but not everybody is doing it really all that well and not everybody is doing it in a high-quality way." [27:12] "You just don't know where stuff is going to come up and where you're going to get a referral from." [42:33] Links Polyphonic Image Productions Follow Polyphic Image on Facebook | Instagram | Vimeo Creative on Main Street Studio Follow Creative on Mainstreet on Facebook Building a Storybrand Thumbtack RipplePop Blind Eyes Opened Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

I often look at my business and wonder how it exists beyond myself. If we can build our businesses in a way that leaves a legacy for our children to benefit from, then I feel they will reach their most pure and ultimate goal. Today's guest has a business that has done exactly that. Ian Murray is the president of SpotOn Productions and the second generation in a family-owned video production company celebrating 21 years in business. As he puts it, they help businesses solve business problems using video. Today, we talk about recognizing the most important product or service you can offer and not taking your business off-track by pursuing too much. Sometimes we want to offer our clients all sorts of things that really aren't our specialty. Ian shares how he came to the realization that this wasn't good for business and how he refocused. Ian is no stranger to hiring employees. Knowing when to start building out your team and hiring someone to do your sales is tricky. It's very important to have a good project-flow system in place for this. Ultimately, having a dedicated sales staff allows the production team to focus on what they do and make your business more efficient overall. Ian is passionate about the importance of managing finances and cash-flow. Experience has taught him many lessons about making sure that you have the money to properly run your business without accumulating runaway debt. The key to this is getting good financial advisors and a business line of credit. Where do you see your business in 10, 20, or 30 years? Let me know in the comments on the episode page! In this episode Recognizing the importance of not offering too many different services Using a dedicated sales staff to facilitate growth The undeniable importance of having a process in business Why it's imperative to get finances in order early on The importance of being intentional in how you want your business to grow Using the power of your business to make the world a better place Quotes "Sales is like fire. If you pour gas on it for growth, the same problems you had when you were small are going to get exponentially worse when you get bigger." [10:31] "We got to that point where we could actually take a week's vacation and the place isn't going to burn to the ground. Stuff is going to get handled. It's an awesome place to get to as a business." [16:31] "If you're just in business to make money, I think you're missing the mark. We all have bills to pay, but how are you making the world a better place with what you're doing." [28:19] "Follow your passion. It's cliché, but it's what drives you forward." [37:04] Links Find Ian Murray online Follow Ian on Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin | YouTube Patrick Lencioni Studio Sherpas Academy Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

In this solo episode, I share with you what I've learned while dealing with this challenge. Sometimes I feel very uncomfortable asking for a sale. To help, I'm sharing some tools and advice for making those conversations less awkward and make you more confident in the end. I discuss some tips for finding the clients that are the best match for you. You'll hear why it's not that different from dating. These relationships take nurturing and active listening if they're going to develop. Building a repeatable process inside your business for finding and keeping the right clients is totally possible. I discuss three things you can do right now to make this happen. It starts with building a lead-magnet. Second, you need an email-capture system. Finally, a CRM is crucial. What kind of lead-magnets could help you find your ideal client? Let me know in the comments on the episode page! In this episode Why it often feels uncomfortable approaching a potential client for a sale How finding the best clients for your business is like finding your soulmate Why the best systems for your business involve consistently nurturing client relationships 3 things you need to do to build a repeatable process for getting the right clients Quotes "We should never be in a position where we feel like we're trying to convince someone to hire us." [3:52] "In business, we need to be thinking what's in it for them. Why would they care to have a conversation with me?" [10:43] "To build a business you have to have systems in place that are repeatable. We need to be hell-bent on creating something that is predictable in our business." [15:34] "If you can create content that adds value to their lives, do it! That is a great way to build a relationship." [25:37] Links How to Make Videos that Convert Kajabi Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Are you waiting for the perfect time to start your filmmaking career? I hate to break it to you, but there will never be a perfect time. Right now is the next best thing and today's guest is going to explain why and how to get into the game, even if you feel that you're not ready. Les Gaddis is a Texas-based cinematographer, blogger, and podcaster. He runs Gaddis Visuals, a production company that offers a full array of services, including concepting, scriptwriting, storyboarding, filming, motion graphics, and editing. He strongly feels that helping other filmmakers grow and learn adds value to everyone in this business. Les shares his lifetime of experience in the world of film. He's changed a lot since he started out helping his family make videos as a child. Now, as a business owner, Les shares how he built the confidence to take the risks necessary to make it big. As a jack of all trades, we talk about how Les decides when he can do a task himself, and when he feels it's better to delegate it out. For any aspiring filmmakers who haven't started their video career yet, Les drops some great advice: just get started. Use your current job, if you have one, to bankroll your filmmaking and get out there and do it! Start making something and start sharing it. Even if you don't have any clients yet, there is work to do. Les' advice is to start constructing your brand and working on your reel right away. With that, you'll be better positioned to attract the type of clients that you're looking for. What can you do today to build your brand even if you don't have any clients? Leave a comment on the episode page! In this episode Knowing when to outsource and delegate and when to do the work yourself Staying motivated when work is scarce The importance of starting your career even if you don't feel ready yet Creating for yourself versus creating for the world What it takes to build a lasting business from the start Quotes "Whenever there's slow times or I'm wondering what I'm going to do with my life, I instantly just go to creative mode." [18:14] "The best filmmakers are the ones where you can see their life experiences in their films." [20:27] "The end goal of having a complete video is just not enough anymore…. You have to have some type of distribution plan that makes sense for either your brand or the company's brand." [36:24] "Even while you're building a reel or doing video work, set yourself up brand-wise. Put your content out there in a way that's smart." [41:47] Links Find Les Gaddis online Follow Les on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Vimeo | YouTube Capturing Light Podcast Studio Sherpas Academy Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

The times we grow the most are often the times when we push our boundaries and get into new situations where we don't completely know what we're doing. There's a real value in this. It's what gets us, our craft, and our business to reach new and greater heights. My guests today, have taken this leap and are still reaping the rewards. Paul and Kelley Gilster are a husband and wife cinematography team and owners of 618 Studios based in Southern California. They've grown their company to serve the high-end wedding market over the past nine years. In 2018, they began to move into the corporate world and now serve both wedding and corporate clients where they've seen their profits skyrocket. Today Paul and Kelly describe their story of building their business strictly around making wedding videos and how they transitioned into the world of corporate promotions. When branching out, they learned some valuable lessons around creating work for free which they share for us here. Paul and Kelly have really nailed their process of client communication. It certainly varies significantly between wedding clients and corporate clients. They talk about the different languages for speaking with various types of clients and how this saves them time and money. Do you serve multiple kinds of clients? How do you talk to each one differently? Share it with me in the comments on the episode page! In this episode When it pays to do work for free and when it doesn't Some of the surprising things that come up when moving to corporate work from shooting weddings The importance of recognizing which clients care about how stuff looks and which clients care about how stuff feels How actually hearing what your clients have to say will save you time and make you more money Quotes "It took us eight years to book our first five-figure wedding package. Within nine months of pursuing corporate work we booked our first five-figure corporate gig." [12:14] "You have to learn to pull out what your clients are looking for and certain aspects of what they need." [29:45] "When you're in those moments when you're pulled out of your comfort zone, it's where you want to be because you're only growing from there." [35:00] "It's just listening. Through the listening, you know what kind of follow-up questions to ask to get to the mutual understanding of what to create." [44:42] Links Find 618 Studios online Follow 618 Studios on Instagram | Facebook | Vimeo Learn about the next Studio Sherpas workshop Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!